asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether there has been any delay or alteration in his plans for the flotation of the royal ordnance factories.

No. It remains the Government's objective to introduce private capital into Royal Ordnance plc as soon as commercially practicable, but no decisions have yet been taken on the precise timing or method of privatisation. The preferred option continues to be to float the company as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are circumstances in which he will postpone the proposed sale of the royal ordnance factories in 1986.

It remains the Government's intention to introduce private capital into Royal Ordnance plc as soon as commercially practicable, but no decisions have yet been taken on the precise timing.